SVC-L2 VPNs: flexible on demand switched MPLS/IP layer-2 VPNs for ethernet SVC, ATM and frame relay

摘要

A Layer-2 virtual private network arrangement and method is disclosed for switched virtual circuits. The switched virtual circuit Layer-2 VPN includes logical ports of two types, customer and provider, and port information tables to relate both types which provides simplified provisioning and a degree of customer autonomy regarding establishing virtual connections without the assistance of the service provider across the service provider's network. The switched virtual circuit Layer-2 VPN is particularly useful for overcoming the need for customers to store and manipulate provider addresses with respect to closed user groups as is done in existing Layer-2 VPNs known in the art.

主权项

1. A network for providing on-demand Layer 2 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), the network comprising:
a plurality of interconnected provider edge devices, wherein:
each provider edge device has at least one provider port;each provider port is associated with a respective provider port identifier;at least some of the provider ports of at least some of the provider edge devices are attached to respective customer ports of customer devices;each of the respective customer ports is associated with:
a particular VPN among the layer 2 VPNs; anda respective customer port identifier that is unique within a customer port identifier space for the particular VPN;the at least some of the provider edge devices having a respective port information table associated with the particular VPN; andthe respective port information table comprises:
a respective mapping for each respective customer port identifier of each respective customer port associated with the particular VPN, each respective mapping associating the respective customer port identifier with the respective provider port identifier, the respective provider port identifier being associated with the respective provider port to which the respective customer port is attached; andtype information for a data link between the respective provider port and the respective customer port.